Local medical device-maker wins global award

Lake Region Medical, a privately held Chaska-based company with operations in Ireland, has become the first company in the Republic of Ireland—and the first medical device manufacturer in Europe—to be awarded a global standard in Operational Excellence, the company announced Tuesday. Lake Region won the Shingo Accreditation Bronze Medallion.

The award was to Lake Region Medical’s New Ross manufacturing subsidiary, located in County Wexford, Ireland. The company employs 750 people at its plant and another 100 people at its International Research and Development Center in Galway.

The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence is part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Three levels are awarded: Bronze Medallion, Silver Medallion and the Shingo Prize.

“The Shingo Bronze Medallion is an award based on organizational leadership and on the alignment of exemplary operations throughout a company’s culture, from top leadership roles through managers and all employees,” said Joe Fleischhacker, CEO of Lake Region Medical.

“We are honored by the New Ross receipt of this prestigious award and want to congratulate the team for their ability to create, coordinate and embed all the necessary thinking, systems and tools to produce the highest quality, minimally-invasive medical devices. It is through the dedication of our employees that the medical community—and their patients—can rely on the optimum performance of these devices for the most advance care.”

Lake Region Medical makes minimally invasive medical devices for the world’s largest medical technology companies. The company was founded in 1947.

Snow lovers may have reason to smile (or at least grin) in the coming days as 2 systems push into Minnesota. Two plowable snowfalls in the span of about 48-72 hours. Even though temperatures rise well into the 30s for highs next week it would be premature to write off winter just yet.